How to Open a Floral Shop
Flowers and floral arrangements are purchased for friends, love ones and for business functions. Annual holidays are potential peek times for a flower shop. Additionally, floral arrangements are given and used as a get well wish, and for thank yous, anniversary acknowledgment, weddings, birthdays and graduations. Churches, restaurants, and banquet operators all decorate with flowers. This is the best business for a start-up business owner who has a true love of the art of floral design.
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Things You'll Need
- Flowers Shop facility Coolers Trimmers Clippers Display counter Vases Computer Printer
Instructions
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Obtain training on flowers and floral arranging. There are a number of schools that offer flower arrangement courses. This includes community colleges. Also, read the assortment of books that have been written for floral industry professionals, such as the American Floral Industry Association (AFIA). Subscribe to floral industry magazines, such as "Florists' Review" magazine.
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Register the business name and business entity. The county clerk office is often the place to register a fictitious business name. The secretary of state in the state of operation is often the place to register a business entity such as a corporation or limited liability company. Coordinated Legal Technologies provides a handy Internet listing of secretaries of state, as referenced below, with links to their governmental websites.
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Find a shop. Chose a location that has high visibility, is easily accessible, and has customer parking. Consult with a local attorney regarding local government land use restrictions and zoning ordinances that may apply to floral shops.
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Purchase shop tools. Before purchasing flowers, purchase floral shop trade tools such as vases, display counters, coolers, trimmers, clippers, and an assortment of decorative accessories and decorative packaging.
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Obtain floral inventory. Create a list of local flower nursery and commercial garden center suppliers. Check references to insure quality products and reliable delivery.
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Design the shop. Make creative store flower displays using knowledge about floral arrangements. Design eye-catching window displays. If an option, create an attractive outside door display to attract those passing by the shop on foot.
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Offer delivery services. This will require a vehicle and cooler system for flower deliveries. The convenience of delivery may be the deciding factor for a floral customer.
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Identify a target market for the shop. Evaluating local competitors in the market will help to identify the best niche. For instance, the floral business can focus on servicing the hospitality market in a community with a high concentration of hotels. Alternatively, funeral service homes offer another niche market for floral arrangers.
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Advertise the business. This includes advertising in relevant publications. Also, have a website designed for the business.
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Tips & Warnings
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for tax or legal advice.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Flowers for Sale at the Corner image by evillager from Fotolia.com
